For the extreme sports enthusiast, going on a cruise through the Caribbean or sipping a premium cocktail on an exotic beach are about as exciting as watching grass grow. True ultimate adrenaline junkies don’t get excited by taking easy excursions through Middle America or taking in the scene in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris. Rolling Out editors offer a few recommendations — for those who harbor a need to dive headfirst from impossibly tall structures or soar near the sun like a bird — to produce that coveted head rush: the best and most breathtaking destinations to engage in extreme sports. These spots can and will produce the heart-palpitating moments — along with possible intervals of imminent bone bruises and deep scar tissue damage.

White Water Rafting: Mexico, Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Honduras are ideal for this exhilarating sport. You’ll also find great river rafting rides in the waters of Alaska and Colorado to Peru and Fiji. While the wildest rides on many rivers are in the springtime, you can find float trips throughout the summer and early fall; as well as trips through stronger rapids on rivers that have dam-release water.

Sky Diving: We’ve all seen Hawaii’s majestic beaches, whether in person or on TV. But how many of us have seen it from 13,000 feet up? Sky diving in Wailua will expose you to the entire island of Oahu, Keana Point, Pearl Harbor and Diamond Head. If you are really adventurous, then take to the sport in Interlaken, Switzerland — viewing the Swiss Alps sounds breathtaking in and of itself. From overhead you can see the incredible peaks of Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau from completely new heights.

Hang Gliding: When people think of Southern California, they conjure up visions of a congested morass of cars, people and overpriced homes cutting into a mountainside. But hang gliding in Owens Valley in SoCal will dispel those thoughts. Owens Valley is a 100-mile-long valley that varies in width from six to 20 miles located between two large faults in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Best of all — you can take lessons from world-renowned hang gliding champion Kari Castle.

Bungee Jumping: Puerto Vallarta is more than a resort town: it has countless scopes for adventure sports in its jungles, beaches and cultural getaways. You can embrace the allure of the lush-green waters of Banderas Bay by taking a bungee jump from the adjacent cliffs for $55 between 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The superior quality of the jumping equipment allows you to enjoy a safe thrill.

Ledge Urban Bungee, of Queenstown, New Zealand, offers a perfect combination of wild adventures and serene beauty. Also check out Graskop Gorge, South Africa, which offers the adventurous an unparlalled freefall experience from a height of 18-19 stories from a Foefie (zip) slide.

Shark fishing: In Skeleton Coast Park, Namibia, angling from the beach, you’ll have the best time going after the copper shark or “bronzy,” as they’re also known. The biggest bronzies weigh around 400 pounds, so you can bet they’ll put up a great fight.

Rock climbing: The images we often see of Japan are of densely populated urban areas, but once you’re actually there you will quickly see that the nation’s rural areas are outstanding for extreme sports, especially Ogawayama.

Surfing: Riding the waves in Waikiki Beach, Honolulu, is one of the original extreme sports for those who remain forever young. This bastion of beauty and tranquility also offers some of the best waves in the world along with breathtaking views and vistas.

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